Dreaming of aristocratic recreation? Then welcome to Colonia Del Valle Centro. Founded during the Porfiriato era this colonia has seen Mexico City transform.
Let me paint you a picture. Imagine wide tree-lined streets. Visualize prestigious shopping malls. See city landmarks dotting the landscape. That is Colonia Del Valle Centro today.
Back in the early 20th century this area was full of ranches. Alfalfa and fruit trees thrived here. These ranches were divided creating Colonia Americana. Some streets still bear the names of those ranches and their fruit trees. Other streets honor Mexican philanthropists.
Colonia Del Valle Centro grew slowly until 1920. A streetcar route connected Mexico City to Coyoacán. Then Avenida de los Insurgentes was paved. Large-scale home and mansion construction began. The area gained green spaces like Parque Hundido built on a former sand mine.
By the 1960s Colonia Del Valle Centro was fully developed. It rivaled other wealthy neighborhoods. Commercial development boomed. Liverpool Insurgentes opened in 1962. University Plaza the country’s first shopping center arrived in 1969.
The Ejes viales changed everything in 1978. These wide one-way roads crisscrossed the city. Tree-lined boulevards turned into quasi-freeways. Ejes 4 5 6 7 and 8 south crossed east to west. Ejes 1 2 and 3 ran south to north. Many families sought quieter places. Redevelopment began. Mansions gave way to apartments offices and schools.
The architecture of Colonia Del Valle Centro tells a story. Large mansions display Californian mission revival and Art Deco styles. Some Porfiriato examples survive. Small skyscrapers rose in the 1960s. These made the area one of Mexico City’s most densely populated. Housing complexes also appeared.
Religious buildings dot Colonia Del Valle Centro. The Temple of the Immaculate Heart of Mary stands at Gabriel Mancera 415. It was built in the early 20th century. Scenes from Romeo + Juliet were filmed here in 1996. Even Luis Miguel was baptized here. The Temple of San Lorenzo Xochimanca is in Parque Popular. It dates back to the 16th century.
Parque Tlacoquemécatl holds the Parroquia del Señor del Buen Despacho. This dates from the 18th century. The Temple of Santo Tomás Actipan stands at Buffalo and Tigre streets built in 1897. The Temple of Santa Monica features Félix Candela’s thin-shell structure. It’s on Fresa Street opposite Parque San Lorenzo.
Two of Mexico’s oldest educational institutions are in Colonia Del Valle Centro. These are the College and Institute of Mexico and Centro Universitario Mexico. Octavio Paz and Germán Dehesa are alumni.
Today Colonia Del Valle Centro remains a desirable place to live. It is modern central and inviting. Upscale shopping and restaurants abound. Though it has transformed over the years its aristocratic roots are still visible. So take a stroll explore its parks and discover the layers of history that make Colonia Del Valle Centro so unique.